Journal of Pollution Effects & Control
Open Access
ISSN: 2375-4397
ISSN: 2375-4397
Pakpong Sriprasert and Nanthanat Sriprasert
Mahasarakham University, Thailand
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Pollut Eff Cont
This research aimed to study electrowinning technique to remove copper from spent copper etching solution in printed circuit boards (PCBs) manufacturing. The high acidic spent etchant (pH 0.3) from real PCBs industry containing 15,210 mgL-1 of total Cu concentration which >95% is dissolved form with an initial conductivity of 515.2mScm-1. Studied conditions involved using Cu sheet as a cathode in the comparison between three different anodes which were Al, Zn, and Fe. Current densities of 14, 28 and 56Am-2 were applied to assess the operating period. Obtained metal sludge samples have been dried and ground, thereafter, crystalline components analyzed by XRD and copper content in dried sludge were evaluated. Initial etchant pH of 0.3, 3 and 5 was tested with Cu and Al electrodes under 28Am-2 current density. Results showed that Al anode gave the highest copper removal efficiency due to its high standard reduction potential. Cementation and electrowinning were believed to be the major mechanisms for copper removal. Dissolved copper removal efficiencies after 60min of 28Am-2 current density applying using Al, Zn and Fe anodes were 99.9, 87.4, and 89.2%, respectively. For the Cu and Al electrodes case, dissolved Cu concentrations were reduced spontaneously 50-63% since the first minute of current supplied for every applied current density. Cu fractions in obtained reddish-brown sludge were 66-70% (w/w) which metallic copper (Cu), copper (I) oxide (Cu2O) and copper (II) sulfate (CuSO4�??5H2O) were mainly detected. Initial etchant pH adjustment from 0.3 to 3 and 5, leading to the poor settleable sludge forming. Dissolved Cu has been reduced by metal complexation and precipitation rather than by electrowinning method. This also results in the lower Cu proportions in the produced dried sludge of 36 and 47% for the initial adjusted pH of 3 and 5, when comparing to 67% for original pH of 0.3.
Pakpong Sriprasert is a Lecturer in Environmental Technology within Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies at Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand. He enjoys both the research and the educational role of supporting students on professional and personal development. The research has currently focused on pollution control and environmental sustainability, especially, the process of utilizing industrial and agricultural waste/wastewater into useful products by recycling. He has his expertise in waste recycling and waste management, particularly, technologies of the base and precious metals recovery from e-waste and PCBs manufacturing wastewater. he had built valuable results after years of experience in these researches. He is the first and corresponding author, obtained a BEng in Environmental Engineering from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand. He has then completed his MEng in the same field at Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. Currently, he is doing PhD at the University of Southampton, the UK, the work on the application of two- and three- phase flow for anaerobic membrane cleaning.
E-mail: pakpong.s@msu.ac.th